Surprise, surprise: Jaguars pick defensive tackle Tyson Alualu

Jags find no partner for trade, select unheralded player from Cal

Arizona State quarterback Danny Sullivan is sacked by California defensive lineman Tyson Alualu on the final play of a 23-21 victory last season.

Jaguars general manager Gene Smith showed during the first round of the NFL Draft that he has the courage of his convictions.

Smith pulled a major surprise Thursday night when he selected defensive tackle Tyson Alualu of Cal with the 10th overall pick after the Jaguars weren’t able to swing a trade to move down for more picks.

In most of the media mock drafts, Alualu was rated as a late first round or early second round pick and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said the Jaguars reached by half a round.Smith knew there would be a lot of questions about the selection from fans, some of whom were upset that the Jaguars didn’t take quarterback Tim Tebow, who was selected by the Denver Broncos with the 25th pick on the first round.

In an interesting twist, Alualu sacked Tebow in the Senior Bowl. He may have another chance during the season opener on Sept. 12 when the Jaguars host Tebow and the Broncos.

Of selecting Alualu in a surprise move, Smith said “I’m not trying to win a popularity contest. I understand people are going to have questions. I’m about winning the Super Bowl. I let the body of work drive our decision making.’’

When asked if this was a bold decision, he said, “That’s not my goal to be bold. My goal is to improve the roster by acquiring the best talent with the right kind of character and competitiveness that it takes to win at the highest level.

“I feel it’s a good decision for the organization. If you don’t trust the body of your work, if you don’t have the courage of your convictions, I think you’re in the wrong business.’’

Taking Alualu was part of a two-pronged strategy that will include an attempt to package veteran John Henderson in a deal for a second-round pick to take Penn State linebacker Sean Lee, who could step into the middle linebacker spot.

When Smith was asked about trading Henderson, he didn’t dismiss the idea.

“We’ll listen to what anybody has to say. We’ll have dialogue with teams. We’ll be on the phone with every team in the NFL, seeing what they’re thinking, sharing some of our thoughts. I’m open to whatever consideration will help this team get better,’’ he said.

Smith said the Jaguars went into the draft figuring they would take Alualu if he was available in the first round. He said the Jaguars thought other teams were interested in him.

“We knew there were other teams, one in particular we had monitored [was interested]. If he was there and we didn’t get something where we felt worthy of considering trading back at some point [they would take him],’’ he said.

But Smith said they didn’t get any acceptable offers to move down although the three teams after them in the draft order traded down.

Like most draft followers, Alulalu said he thought he’d be picked late in the first round or early in the second and thought New England might take him there. He said the Titans and Eagles also showed interest.

The difference between going late in the first round and in the 10th spot will be worth millions of dollars to Alualu. Michael Crabtree of San Francisco got a six-year, $32 million deal last year as the 10th pick.

”That comes with it,’’ he said. “A lot of things are going through my head.’’

The son of a pastor, Alualu is noted as a high-character player and he called the media from church. He is married and the father of two. He’s of Samoan heritage although he grew up in Hawaii and started playing football in the third grade.

Alualu called himself a player with relentless pursuit who plays from snap to whistle and the Jaguars described him the same way.

“This is a passionate football player,’’ said Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio. “Plays with a great deal of energy, a high motor as [defensive line coach Joe] Cullen said. He plays with a lot of relentless energy.’’

It's not about picking Tebow for me. I could care less about the Gators. It was about getting the best DE or DT. The Jags took a tweener who is probably just a slow DE or weak DT.

Now if you want to see how a real team drafts check out the Giants. Sure I know it's not all Coughlin's call anymore but they outdraft the Jags year after year.

Pete Prisco's live draft analysis
No. 15: Giants select: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida Grade
Analysis: This is the best pick of the first round. The Giants picked a star pass rusher. He will be a force. What a great pick. I love this pick more than any other. He will be a 12-15 sack player in a year.
A+
No. 46: Giants select: Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina Grade
Analysis: The Giants continue to draft well this year. This kid is a better player than Troup, who went earlier in the round. He's a force inside who has jumped up a lot of team's boards.
A
No. 76: Giants select: Chad Jones, SS, LSU Grade
Analysis: Here's another guy on my Better-Than list. I really like what the Giants have done. Even with Antrel Rolle, Deon Grant and Kenny Phillips, they land another good safety. Jerry Reese is having a nice draft.
A
Jon Dove's live draft analysis
No. 115: Giants select: Phillip Dillard, ILB, Nebraska Grade
Analysis: The Giants needed a linebacker and this guy fits the mold.
B
No. 147: Giants select: Mitch Petrus, G, Arkansas Grade
Analysis: Petrus is a strong player and fits in the Giants scheme. He adds depth and youth to an aging OL.
B+
No. 221: Giants select: Matt Dodge, P, East Carolina Grade
Analysis: Dodge is highly unlikely to make this team. He doesnt have a very strong leg.
D-

The only good part about the draft was they did not have seven picks to look even worse.

Pete Prisco's live draft analysis
No. 10: Jaguars select: Tyson Alualu, DT, California Grade
Analysis: Wow. Is this high? The kid is a good football player, but they could have traded back to get him. Why not a pass rusher? Pierre-Paul was a better pick. He's good, but this is high.
C-
No. 74: Jaguars select: D'Anthony Smith, DT, Louisiana Tech Grade
Analysis: This is a message that John Henderson won't be back. Smith is a really impressive player. I had him on my Better-Than list. He can be explosive.
B+
Jon Dove's live draft analysis
No. 143: Jaguars select: Larry Hart, LB, Central Arkansas Grade
Analysis: Not sure how Hart fits with the Jaguars. He doesnt have the ideal size to play DE and will need time to adjust to OLB. His skills would fit better in a 3-4 defense.
D+
No. 153: Jaguars select: Austen Lane, DE, Murray State Grade
Analysis: Austen Lane is a good pass rusher. He needs to get stronger but has a ton of potential. He had two plus seasons of 11+ sacks.
B+
No. 180: Jaguars select: Deji Karim, RB , Southern Illinois Grade
Analysis: Karim is a small but powerful back. He has good speed but is coming off of a major knee injury.
C-
No. 203: Jaguars select: Scotty McGee, CB , James Madison Grade
Analysis: McGee is going to struggle making it as a corner but he has playmaking ability as a kick returner.
D+

Sadly, the one attribute that competes with the vast majority of politicians' arrogance is ignorance.

0 points

spf3000

Friday, April 23, 2010 @ 11:00 pm

Using the 10th pick on someone rated at 72 in the draft?! Are you kidding me? I am completely baffled by the Jags contentment at .500 ball. Yep, you lost all those games because you didn't have enough D-linemen. Seriously? Is the Jaguars organization purposely trying to fail so it can get moved to a larger market? That is the only thing that makes sense. Is Weaver in on this too? Or is it just Smith and Harris? Give us our team back, LOSERS! Weaver, if you're not in on trying to ensure failure from the inside, please replace the entire front office and coaching staff after the Jags manage to eek out 7 measly wins this year!! The length of time that the Jag's ineptitude on the field has occurred indicates an intention to fail or contentment with failure. Neither of those is acceptable, and there is nothing wrong with fans growing weary of an organization that intends to lose or thinks losing is perfectly fine.